Left
夏夜のまだもねなくにあけぬれば昨日今日ともおもひまどひぬ
| natsu no yo no mada mo nenaku ni akenureba kinō kyō tomo omoimadoinu | On a summer night, Still sleep has eluded me, When dawn breaks— Is it yet yesterday, or today, I wonder in confusion. |
74
Right
うのはなのさけるかきねは白雲のおりゐるとこそあやまたれけれ
| u no hana no sakeru kakine wa shirakumo no ori’iru to koso ayamatarekere | Deutzia flowers Are blooming by the brushwood fence— Clouds of white Have descended there, I think— How strange… |
75
Left (Win).
夏の夜はなるゝ清水の浮き枕むすぶ程なきうたゝ寢の夢
| natsu no yo wa naruru shimizu no ukimakura musubu hodo naki utatane no yume |
On a summer night Trickling water cools Beside my drifting pillow; No time to dip it In a brief dozy dream. |
239
Right.
夏の夜の數にも入れじ時鳥來鳴かぬさきに明るしのゝめ
| natsu no yo no kazu ni mo ireji hototogisu kinakanu saki ni akuru shinonome |
Among summer nights’ Number I’ll not count this one: Before the cuckoo Can come calling Comes the dark before bright dawn. |
240
The Right wonder ‘whether “Trickling water beside my drifting pillow” (shimizu no ukimakura) is something that’s likely to occur?’ while the Right counter, ‘and what of “Among summer nights’ number I’ll not count this one” (natsu no yo no kazu ni mo ireji) – it seems somewhat excessive an expression.’ Shunzei states testily, ‘The gentlemen of the Right’s questioning of “drifting pillow” (ukimakura) is absurd, for has there not long been the image of pillowing on a flow? The Right’s “Among summer nights’ number I’ll not count this one”, unavoidably incurs criticism from the gentlemen of the Left. In addition, the Left’s final line is most fine. It should win.’
Left (Win).
うたゝ寢の夢よりさきに明ぬ也山ほとゝぎす一聲の空
| utatane no yume yori saki ni akenu nari yama hototogisu hitogoe no sora |
Before even a brief dozy Dream, ‘Tis light, with A mountain cuckoo’s Single song in the skies. |
237
Right.
足引の山郭公待つとても寢ぬ夜の空に明るしのゝめ
| ashihiki no yama hototogisu matsu tote mo nenu yo no sora ni akuru shinonome |
The leg-wearying Mountain cuckoo I would await, still Sleepless, the night sky Is dark before dawn’s light. |
238
The Right state that the Left’s poem this round is ‘exceptionally wonderful’, while the Left simply remark that the Right’s poem is ‘old-fashioned in parts’.
Shunzei states, ‘The gentlemen of the Right have already judged the Left’s poem. All that I can say is that it is better than exceptionally wonderful. Thus, the Left must win.’
Left (Win).
夏の夜は更けゆく程やなかるらん暮るればやがて明るしのゝめ
| natsu no yo wa fukeyuku hodo ya nakaruran kurureba yagate akuru shinonome |
On a summer night Seems to grow late there’s No time; It falls and then ‘Tis the dark before bright dawn. |
235
Right.
暮れぬとてたれこめたればやがて又ひまこそ白め夏の夜な夜な
| kurenu tote tare kometareba yagate mata hima kozo shirame natsu no yonayona |
Night’s fallen and I’m curtained in my bed And then Through the cracks comes light Night after summer night! |
The Provisional Master of the Empress’ Household Office.
236
The Right state that, ‘The Left’s “seems…no time” feels overly feeble.’ The Left reply that the poet is exhausted by the heat.
Shunzei says, ‘The gentlemen of the Right have criticised the Left as overly feeble, but I wonder if their own poems are always forceful? In the summer, even if it has got completely dark, there’s no need to shut oneself up in one’s curtains, as in the Right’s poem. The Left must win.’
Left.
夕涼み閨へも入らぬうたゝ寢の夢を殘して明くるしのゝめ
| yū suzumi neya e mo iranu utatane no yume o nokoshite akuru shinonome |
In the cool of evening I’ve not taken to my bed, but Dozing Have dreamed on In the dark before dawn’s light. |
233
Right (Win).
澄む月の光は霜とさゆれどもまだ宵ながら在明の空
| sumu tsuki no hikari wa shimo to sayuredomo mada yoi nagara ariake no sora |
The clear moon Light is frost Frigid, yet Still ‘tis night In the dawn-touched sky. |
234
Neither team has any criticisms to make this round.
Shunzei says, ‘The Left’s phrase “have dreamed on” (yume o nokoshite) is extremely good. The earlier “In the cool of evening” (yū suzumi) is a phrase often used in composition, but I dislike it. The Right’s poems is charming throughout. It should win.’
Left (Win).
みじか夜も鳥より後ぞ明やらぬ老の寢覺に物思ふ身は
| mijika yo mo tori yori nochi zo akeyaranu oi no nezame ni mono’omou mi wa |
A brief space of night, and After hearing that bird sound, Dawn still fails to break: Waking from sleep when old, My head is full of gloomy thoughts… |
231
Right.
夏の夜はたゝく水鶏のひまなきに程なくあくる天の戸なれや
| natsu no yo wa tataku kuina no himanaki ni hodo naku akuru ama no to nare ya |
Throughout the summer night Knocking is the water rail Without a pause, so In moments will light Break through Heaven’s door? |
232
The Right state, ‘Starting with simply “a brief space of night” (mijika yo mo) seems unsatisfying. In addition, something seems lacking from “after hearing that bird” (tori yori nochi).’ The Left reply, ‘We can cite the examples of “While a brief space of night breaks” (mizika yo no Fukeyuku mama ni) and “calling in the Fifth Month’s brief space of night” (naku ya satuki no mizika yo) both of which are known to be superlative poems. There is nothing particular to remark upon in the Right’s poem.’
Shunzei comments, ‘I, too, know well the feeling of waking from sleep when old. The Left’s poem is superior to the Right’s.’
Left (Tie).
つくづくと幾代のことか思はまし晝に變らぬ夏の夜ならば
| tsukuzuku to ikuyo no koto ka omowamashi hiru ni kawaranu natsu no yo naraba |
On and on, About times long gone Would I ponder, if Last as long as daylight Did the summer nights… |
229
Right (Tie).
時鳥鳴く一聲に明くる夜も待つには秋の心地こそすれ
| hototogisu naku hito koe ni akuru yo mo matsu ni wa aki no kokochi koso sure |
The cuckoo’s Single call Brings the dawn to night; Awaiting it, as autumn It does seem! |
230
The Right state that, ‘We do not feel that that one spends a summer night dwelling constantly on the past, as is the case in autumn.’ In reply, the Left say, ‘Why not? Summer days are certainly long enough, so why would one not continue to do so? As for your poem, if it is the cuckoo doing the waiting, it would seem that the poem is on the theme of cuckoos, and it fails to seem like one on the topic of summer nights.’
Shunzei simply comments tersely, ‘The defects of both poems this round have been adequately comprehended. A tie.’